With the help of Harry Atkins ,I now know the dancing school was called the Bertram School of dancing run by Molly Caulder and was in Black Lion Street, not Ship Street. Although I was about five or six at the time of the photograph, I seem to remember her dressed in top hat and tails doing a tap dance at the end of the show, so maybe that isn't her dressed as the bride. In the photo second right of the bride there is a person dressed in top hat and tails, that could be Molly.I'm sure someone will know the answer.

I was also in the above show lineup with Lolly my friend. Above also were Charmaine,Vicky, and of course I think Tommy was the only boy. The above show was held in Dorset Gardens as were most of the shows. The two girls on the front left that are talking to one another, are standing in front of me dressed as a Gypsy boy .

The above picture of the dance school was at one time called the Molly Calder School of Dancing. Molly's mum was also a teacher when I went there, and we had to follow everything Molly told us with her mum saying "come along everyone watch Molly and copy her." The hall had these great big mirrors floor to ceiling all around the room, the floor was wooden and the ballet bar seemed quite high too. Later on the name was changed to the Bertram School of Dancing and Molly was then on her own with us. I did Tap and Ballet; great days.

Molly's school was indeed in Black Lion Street and is still there, but the last time I was there it was occuppied by a resturant. Molly was very proud of her school and especially naming it after her father. I have no idea who is who in the photo, but the person in the wedding dress does look most like her. I have some photos of her somewhere taken when she was young so I'll dig them out and have a look.
Her school is still going under the same name, now run by Wendy Tucknott, a former pupil and close friend.
Molly passed away in 2002, we miss her greatly but her character is still very much alive in our minds. She would have felt very proud knowing there was a website about her. I am her nephew Terry Caulder.

Does anyone remember the Molly Ball School of Ballet?
I attended between 1953 and 1961.
This was also just off North Street but to the right in a building over warehouses or something similar. I remember in summer days we were allowed to exit down the circular fire escape outside.
I have fond memories of grand events put on at the Dome Theatre and smaller ones like garden parties.

I attended Molly Balls School of Ballet from about 1953 until 1963. I emigrated to New Zealand in 1964, but now live in Queensland, Australia. How well I remember the Brighton Competions which I did for years both in dancing and singing. I went on in life to become a professional singer. I also remember the fire escape! Lucky thing there were no broken legs from using it!

Hi Davina,
Thanks for your response to my Molly Ball question.
I am thinking you may have been older than myself when you started and you seem to have used your talents well, congratulations. I remember going straight to ballet class as school ended and as our class was finishing the older class was arriving for their lessons. I can remember preparing for bigger concerts for the Dome etc. where the older classes would gather so we could all incorporate what we'd learnt and feeling amazed at the bigger dancers and how professional they all seemed, especially when on points. Ballet was not to be my venue this time but I have used a lot of it's style and character in the art form that I'm busy with and that is world of 'Spirit Dolls'. I am a Doll maker. I am commissioned to make portrait characters of how I percieve people in their spirit, or nature self. It is work I love. Not so strenuous as Ballet. Do you happen to have any old photos from that period that you would wish to share, either through this web or privately with me. I did have a collection at one time but at 63 I have let so many old snaps go and now wish I could still browse some of them.
My email is as follows if you do wish to contact me; TheMossFairy@cooptel.net
I look forward to hearing from you.

I attended Molly Caulder's Bertram School of Dancing from the age of 8 to 11/12. She was an extremely good 'old school' teacher. Molly's dance classes took place in Black Lion Street above some old lock up garages. You had to climb the equally old creaky stairs to the studio with a small changing room and toilet. Bars were attached down one wall with mirrors on another, a piano in the corner with Mrs Braune affixed. Molly's cantankerous Mother was always in attendance collecting the money for each class. I see that Terry Caulder has written a note about his Aunt (Molly). I remember Terry, he was a year younger than I, if my memory serves, and was ushered in each year to perform in Molly's Annual Show, which was either held at The Dome, The Art School or Dorset Gardens at the time. I remember performing with Terry dressed as 'Mr Baggy Britches' with clogs on and us very young ladies dressed as Dutch girls with blonde plaits and blue and white bonnet hats. Another time Terry was Santa in our rendition of "When Santa Got Stuck up the Chimney"! All very good happy memories. Molly had an absolutely fantastic idea one year for the finale of the show. She had us all dressed as Pearly Kings and Queens in black outfits with white buttons dotted all over sprayed with luminous paint. On the end number of the medley "Doing the Lambeth Walk" the lights were dimmed at The Dome and the ultra violet lights came on providing a spectacle of blackness with the entire dance school on the stage providing moving white dots all over the place. I was onstage but have been told that it looked amazing. Well done Molly! I was Jayne Moore in those days and how happy they were too.

My two step daughters attended Molly's dance school in the sixties along with Wendy and Janice Cox. Keep tapping. Molly was the best.